This is a file-decompression program for Classic Mac OS. It can decompress BIN (MacBinary), HQX (BinHex), SIT v1.5.1, SIT v2, SIT v5, gz (gzip), zip, uue (UUEncode) files

It can also mount ShrinkWrap disk-image files.  Stuffit Expander was by far one of the most popular and useful utilities for classic Macintosh computers back in the 90's.

Included files:

I intentionally kept all filenames less than 32 characters to accommodate the filename limitations of classic mac operating systems.

Any one of these files alone is sufficient to obtain a useable program. I include multiple formats for archival safety, and I also include a version with readme's for the sake of completeness. This program was originally distributed using an installer, but the program itself is actually self-contained and does not require installation. Aladdin Systems chose to use installers mainly to appease migrating Windows users who were simply accustomed to adding programs using an installer.

Since classic macintosh programs contain both a data fork and a resource fork, an encoding format like MacBinary or BinHex are needed to transport them safely without losing vital data. These encoding formats can only contain a single file.

Stuffit's SIT files can also function as a transport-safe binary encoding format. But they can contain and compress multiple files in much the same way a ZIP file can.

Before Stuffit SIT files became standard, it was common to "archive" files using Apple's native Disk Copy utility to create a disk image containing multiple files, and then encode that image into MacBinary or BinHex.

A modern PC program like HFVExplorer can transparently decode HQX and BIN files while copying the file into a HFV hard drive image. Alternatively, there are macintosh utilities than can decode these natively within the classic mac operating system. Any version of Stuffit can also decode these files.

Compatibility

Architecture: 68k PPC

FAT binary, 68k & PPC native. Requires a 68020 CPU (Mac II) or later.

Mac OS 7.1 or newer.

Not compatible with the earliest Macintosh 68000 CPU's such as those found in the Mac Classic, SE, Plus, or used by Mini vMac (Mac Plus ROM), etc.